Alright, let's turn to Daniel chapter number 1. Daniel chapter number 1. In Daniel 1, we're just going to read one verse to begin with. We're going to be reading a lot of verses from the book of Daniel tonight. But it says there in verse 21, and Daniel continued, and I got that underlined in my Bible, he continued, even unto the first year of King Cyrus. And we'll talk about the significance of that here in just a moment. When this judgment on Judah all came down, Daniel was already serving the Lord, but Daniel was taken captive by King Nebuchadnezzar. Now, understand that Daniel could have despaired. Daniel could have given in to the wickedness that was going on around him. Daniel could have given up on serving the Lord, but he didn't do any of those things. Amen. The Bible says that Daniel continued even into the first year of King Cyrus. Now, that means that Nebuchadnezzar, who was the present king, Nebuchadnezzar went. Belshazzar came and went. Darius came and went with the Medes and Persians, Cyrus came, and Daniel was still there. What did Daniel continue in? Well, he continued, and that word continued means he remained and the same things that we all should continue in despite the circumstances of life that we may find ourselves in. Amen? We should stick with the Lord. And we see that Daniel continued, and I pointed this out last week but not in this manner, Daniel continued in godly purpose. There in Daniel 1.8 we read last week, but Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself for the portion of the king's meat nor with the wine which he drank. Therefore he requested the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself." That word purpose means to put. In other words, he put in his heart that he would not defile himself. Daniel did not live his life fatalistically. You know, some folks live with a, they say, well, whatever will happen, will happen. Whatever will be, will be. That's not the way Daniel lived. Daniel lived his life on purpose. He knew God had a purpose for his life, and he lived his life with God's purpose. The question is, do we really believe that God has a purpose for our lives? If you're a child of God, I can tell you God does have a purpose for your life. And you need to seek out what God's purpose for your life is and live according to that purpose. And that's what Daniel did. Daniel sought God's purpose and lived God's purpose for his own life. What are we putting into our hearts? Well, Daniel put God's will there. And we would be a lot better off if we made sure we put God's will in our lives. Another question is this, do we believe that God is sovereign in everything? If so, then we can live our lives with godly purpose no matter what this life may bring our way." I mean, he had purposed to live his life for God, yet he was carried away into captivity. We saw how he had been abused a little bit. And I'm not going to get back into that, but really it's Romans 8.28 in action. We know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are the called according to His purpose. He knew that God was sovereign, and that God had allowed this to take place. In fact, it had been prophesied that this was going to take place. They were going to be carried away into captivity. And even the remnant, even the king's seed, were going to be carried away into captivity. Second of all, we see Daniel continued in godly purity. There Daniel 1 ate again. Heathen nations not only ate unclean beasts, which were forbidden by Jewish law, but even the clean animals that were eaten were first offered as victims to their gods, and part of the wine was poured out as a libation on their altars. Daniel was resolved not to defile himself with their ways. Yes, he was living among them, but that didn't mean he had to live in the same way that they lived. He did not rudely refuse what was intended to be proper provisions for him. But he resolved not to defile himself with their ways, and he mildly and modestly requested the proper officers to extend to him some grace in this area. Well, he had to prove himself within ten days of time. He was only given ten days, and he trusted the Lord to make things work during that time, and it did. In Psalm 24 verse 3 through 5 said these words, he said, Who shall ascend to the hill of the Lord? Who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands and a pure heart, who hath not lifted up his soul into vanity, nor sworn deceitfully, he shall receive the blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. And that really, in a nutshell, describes the way that Daniel was. Paul told the young Timothy in 2 Timothy 2.22, he said, told him to flee youthful lusts, but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. And, of course, Daniel was one that was calling on the Lord out of a pure heart himself. Matthew 5.8, our Lord and Savior said, Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. So Daniel continued in godly purpose, He continued in godly purity. And we see a third thing here, Daniel continued in godly providence. There in verse number 9 of chapter number 1, God had brought Daniel into favor and tender love with the prince of the eunuchs. You know, relationships with people are important. and the relationships we have, God can use those relationships. Well, he had used this relationship that he had with the prince of the eunuchs for God's purpose. God's presence was still with Daniel. God's providence was evident in Daniel's life. And we mentioned last week that there was an indication he's somewhat like Joseph was back in Genesis 39. The Lord was with Joseph where the Lord was with Daniel here. And other folks saw that the Lord was with Joseph. Well, other folks saw that the Lord was with Daniel, too. So it has some parallels there. And we know that God is still with us even when our world is turned upside down. Amen? We don't know what might come tomorrow, but I can assure you that if you have the Lord in your heart and in your life, God's not going to leave you nor forsake you. He will be right there. Don't think that He's left you. He is with you. But you've got to lean upon Him, even when your world is turned upside down on you. We see, number four thing, Daniel continued in godly provision. God gave Daniel exactly what he needed when he needed it. When Daniel needed that physical provision, God gave it. We saw there that he didn't want him to devour himself with the king's meat and the king's wine, and so he requested that he and his friends, the three Hebrew children, be given paltz to eat and water to drink. And they proved themselves with that. Verse number 17 says, And as for these four children, God gave them knowledge, and skill, and all learning, and wisdom. And Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. So God provided physically for them. Look at chapter number 6 for just a moment. Chapter number 6 and verse number 22. God provided his physical protection here in chapter 6 and verse 22. This is when Daniel was thrown in the lion's den, and we're getting ahead of ourselves, but we know that God shut the mouths of the lions, and that's what it says here in verse 22. My God hath sent His angel, this is what Daniel said, My God hath sent His angel and hath shut the lions' mouths that they have not hurt me. For as much as before him innocency was found in me, and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt." He was not guilty of acting wrong, even though they tricked him into doing something that caused him to be thrown into the lion's den. We'll get into that a little bit later. But we know that not only God provided this physical provision, but when Daniel needed mental provision, God gave it as well. Look at Daniel chapter 2. Look at verse number 16. And this is when he was called before King Nebuchadnezzar. And the King Nebuchadnezzar had had a dream, and he forgot the dream, and he's trying to look for all these wise men to tell him the dream and tell him what it meant. Well, you know, it's bad enough to be able to tell somebody what the dream meant. I mean, I had one of those dreams this week. What did the dream mean? I have no idea, you know. But here, he had also come up with the dream. And we see there in Daniel 2, verse number 16, It says, Then Daniel went in, and desired of the king that he would give him time, that he would show the king the interpretation. Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mosheel, and Azariah his companions, that they would desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning his secret, that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. So he gave God the glory. Amen? The Lord gave him what he needed. Look down at verse 20. Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. Still dealing with a cough. I apologize for that. Can't be helped. Look at chapter number five. Chapter number five. Look at another instance here, chapter 5 and verse number 11. This is King Belshazzar when it followed Demogenezer. And in Belshazzar's day, he had a message written on the wall, and he didn't understand what it meant. It troubled him greatly. The joints of his loins were loose and his knees even smote against one another. I mean, you're talking about scaring somebody. He was scared of what was going on. And he didn't know what to do. And he called all the wise men that he could, and none of them could make any interpretation known to him. Well, his queen, let's pick up in verse number 10. Now the queen, by reason of the words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house, and the queen spake and said, O king, live forever, let not thy thoughts trouble thee, nor let thy countenance be changed. Look at verse 11. There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods, When she got God's wrong, it's holy God, amen, there's just one. And in the days of thy father, light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him, whom the king Nebuchadnezzar, thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers. For as much as an excellent spirit and knowledge and understanding, interpreting of dreams, showing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation." And so we see here His queen remembered what Daniel had done before. Look at verse number 14. Daniel is standing there and says, that the Spirit of the gods is in thee, this is him talking to Belshazzar, Belshazzar is saying this to Daniel, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee. Well, we know it came from God, and it was given to him, but look down to verse number 26, and we see, yes, the interpretation was given. This is the interpretation of the thing. And he says, meaning, God hath numbered thy kingdom and finished it. Tekel, thou art weighed in the balances and art found wanting. Peres, thy kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians. And so, when Daniel needed it, God gave him that mental provision that he needed to be able to not only tell Nebuchadnezzar what his dream was, but also interpret it and be able to interpret what this writing was on the wall for Belshazzar. When Daniel needed spiritual provision, God gave it. Look at Daniel chapter 6. and verse number 10, Daniel 6 and verse 10. And this is when the others that were in Darius' kingdom that were leaders, they knew Daniel was preferred above them and they were trying to find some way to bring Daniel down. They couldn't find anything. And so they made up something and they said, you know, they made Darius, had Darius sign a decree that nobody would ask petition of anything, anyone, God or man, for 30 days except the king. And if you didn't do that, you'll be cast into the den of lions. Well, down in verse 10 it says, now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he was aware of it, amen, he knew the writing was signed, he went into his house and his windows being opened in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, notice this, as he did aforetime. Nothing changed. He did exactly what he always did. Look at verse 11. Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. So they did that. When Daniel needed spiritual provision, God gave it. And we know that There he was delivered from the lions' den. Look at chapter 9. Look at chapter 9. Chapter 9 is a great prayer, one of the great prayers in the Bible. It's Daniel's prayer of confession. And you could tell he was enlightened looking at the prophecy of Jeremiah the prophet. Let's read a few verses here. Look at Daniel 9 verse number 1, In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus of the seed of the Medes, which was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans, in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, understood by books the number of the years whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the prophet, that he would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem. And I set my face unto the Lord God to seek by prayer and supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes. And I prayed unto the Lord my God and made confession and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keep in the covenant and mercy to them that love him. and to them that keep His commandments. We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from Thy precepts and from Thy judgments. Neither have we hearkened unto Thy servants the prophets, which spake in Thy name to our kings, and our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land. O LORD, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but unto us confusion of faces, as at this day, to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel that are near, and that are far off through all the countries, whether thou hast driven them. because of their trespasses, that they have trespassed against Thee. O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of faiths, to our kings, to our princes, and to our fathers, because we have sinned against Thee. To the Lord our God belong mercies and forgiveness, though we have rebelled against Him." And the prayer goes on, and he prays and asks the Lord to forgive. Look at verse number 19. Verse number 19, O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hearken and do! Defer not for thine own sake, O my God, for thy city and for thy people are called by thy name. Notice this, verse 20, And while I was speaking, Whilst I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin, and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God, for the holy mountain of my God, yea, whilst I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in a vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation, and he informed me and talked with me and said, O Daniel, I have now come forth to give thee skill and understanding." So here, he was in need of spiritual provision. The Lord opened up to him the prophecies of the last days. Actually, the prophecy about Messiah, you'll see that, what's known as the 70 weeks are determined there in verse 24. I'm not going to get into the 70 weeks tonight. But we see that when he prayed, God gave him that 70 weeks prophecy. So Daniel continued in godly provision. And Daniel continued also in godly proving. We saw last week how there in Daniel 1, he asked for the prince of the eunuchs to prove them for ten days. And God came through for him. We noticed how in just in 10 days, the improvement in verses 17, as for these four children, chapter 1, verse 17, as for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill and all learning and wisdom. And Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. And when they were brought before Nebuchadnezzar, they were found to be 10 times better than all the other magicians and astrologers that were in all the realm. What a blessing! But, you know, many times the circumstances of life come as a proving ground of our faith. And he said, you know, God's going to provide. If you'll just let us prove, you'll see that we'll fare better off of the pulse and off the water than we will off of eating King's meat and drinking the wine, King's wine. Look at chapter 2, verse 17 and 18. And here we see Daniel asking for time. Verse 17, Then Daniel went to his house, made the thing known to Hananiah, Mashiach, Azariah, and his companions, that they would desire mercies of God of heaven concerning his secret, that Daniel and his fellows should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven, Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. He asked that the king would give him some time there in verse 16. And the king gave him time, and the Lord came through for him. He proved God. that God would come through for him. Now the question is, are we going to trust God or are we going to abandon our faith when the tough times come? I hope that we have learned from Daniel that we should trust the Lord, amen? Daniel continued, in order to continue one first must have a beginning with God, amen? That's where it begins at, when you have a relationship with God. In order to continue, one must have God's purpose. We must not live our lives according to our purpose, but determine that we're going to live according to God's purpose and seek that purpose out in our life and live according to God's purpose for our life. In order to continue, we must have God's purity. In order to continue, we must have God's providence working in our lives. in order to continue, we must have God's provision, and in order to continue, we must have God's proving. Now, we're going to drive a stop right there, it's a good knocking off place, and we'll come back, and we've got, there's a total of 11 things, Let's think, eleven, no, twelve. There's a total of twelve that we're looking at. We just looked at five tonight. We'll take a look at the last part of that. We'll have a separate handout for you next week, Lord willing. Well, that's our Bible study for this evening. Let's pull back in our prayer list, and we'll pray for the needs, and then we'll be dismissed with this prayer. I appreciate you being here tonight.